Forest Health Update - Sudden Oak Death

[swampwhiteoak]

http://www.trib.com/HOMENEWS/STATE/OakKiller.html

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/01/08/MN180300.DTL

Redwood has been found to be a host of Sudden Oak Death.  

For those that don't pay attention to the left coast, Sudden Oak Death is a mysterious fungus recently identified as some type of Phytophthora fungus (If you wanna no more about how phytophthora can devistate, read up on the Irish potato famine).  It was first discovered in Mill Valley, California a few years ago.  It was thought to only infect live oak trees, then found to infect tanoaks and black oaks as well (basically all the oaks).  Then it was found on rhodendrons, bay laurels, mandrones, and huckleberries.

It's origin is unknown, but most likely imported.

Recently, the fungus was found on redwood.  If it runs it's course on redwoods like it does on oaks, this is very sad news indeed.

I personally can't recall any disease that jumps from such unrelated trees as oaks and redwoods.  Hardwood to Conifer, very strange.

This effects CA's and Oregon's forests in a few different ways.  First, you've got the death of a large number of trees and the loss of diversity and growing stock that goes along with it.  Second, a major loss of wildlife food (oaks) and habitat (oaks & redwood?) .  Third, the way fires have been going recently the last thing that part of the country needs is a bunch of large dry fuel waiting for a spark.

Hope they at least keep this on their side of the country, the last thing I want to worry about is a massive oak salvage cut ala American Chestnut.

Hey, we had a fellow on here from CA a few days ago, I'm sure I messed something up, so please correct me or make your own comments.  I know Frank Pender is in Oregon, are you seeing an increase of salvaging dying oaks?

For in-depth info on Sudden oak death
http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/

[Tillaway]

I can't add anything, that stuff is still a long way from me.  They are trying real hard to keep this stuff contained to the Bay area.  You might note that Oaks in general are not considered a commercial species out here.  If this stuff gets into the softwoods though... :.  Actually... we've been looking for a good way to kill Tan Oak. ;)

[Ron Scott]

The news is worrisome to both the environmentalists fighting to preserve California's redwood stands and to the state's forest products industry which views the species, which grows on both state and private land, as one of the most important in the state.